Together By Chance (#1 The Together Series) (3 page)

    
She looked around noticing that there were several scented candles which she always liked to burn at home.  Magazines she liked to read along with a few mystery novels placed on the chest.  On the bedside table she saw that there were several CD’s of her favorite artists.  Impressive she thought.

    
She walked over to the chest and looked down at the pair of purple fluffy house shoes sitting next to it. She smiled as she thought that they were something exactly like she would wear.  She opened the drawers and gasped at all of the clothing inside.  The top drawer was full of panties, bra’s and socks.  The next drawer had T-shirts folded neatly filled the drawer.

    
The next drawer had several pajama pants and pajama shorts, the last drawer surprised her the most.  Silk night gowns of different colors.  How would he know what she liked to wear?  How did he know her sizes?  She couldn’t help but to wonder why he even had stocked this room with everything she would need to begin with.  How did he know she would even be here?  Or that she would even come?  Her mind went crazy with multiple questions.  Most importantly he must be planning on her being here for a long while.

    
She took a look around again and noticed two doors were on the other wall.  She opened the first door and walked into a small walk in closet.  Again it was fully stocked.  Several pair of jeans hung neatly followed by long sleeve cotton shirts, flannel shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters and light jackets all color coordinated.  On the floor she noticed boots and tennis shoes of multiple styles.  She took a deep breath feeling as if she were in her own little mall.  Feeling a bit excited of what she would find next she moved on.

    
She went to the other door and found herself in the bathroom of her dreams.  A large white tub cornered with three steps leading up into it.  In the other corner a stand up glass door shower.  A single pedestal sink.  She opened the doors to the cabinet next to the sink.  The first shelf had several rolls of toilet paper, tampons which made her feel a hint of embarrassment, toothpaste, a toothbrush still in its package, Tylenol, ibuprofen, lotions, body wash, shampoo, conditioners, razors.  Everything that she would need was there.  She felt amazed at the fact that he had taken the time to stock it with anything and everything that she could possibly need.

    
The other two shelves held perfectly folded multicolored fluffy towels.  Above the sink, she stared into the mirror looking at herself.  Her eyeliner smeared, her hair a mess, a smudge on her cheek made her aware of the fact she was in need of a hot shower.

    
She walked back into the bedroom and on the bed sat her bag.  She wondered why he had taken the time to pack it when obviously this room had everything in it.  She opened her bag and noticed the only things that were in it were her makeup bag, her perfume, and sketch pad and pencils.

    
“Well obviously he hadn’t packed what I thought.”  She whispered.

    
After going through the chest she opted for a pink t shirt and a pair of black and pink flannel pajama bottoms.  She grabbed a pair of panties and went to the bathroom.  After undressing, she unlatched the hook to the locket she wore.  She opened it and stared at it for a moment. 

    
“Well at least if I have to be here, he’s a sight for sore eyes.”  She laughed as she spoke to the unknown couple smiling up at her.  She didn’t know why but they always seemed to make her feel better.  Closing the locket she sat it inside the cabinet.  She opened the shower door and turned the water on hoping she would be able to take a really hot shower like she always loved to take.  She was pleasantly surprised when the water quickly began to put out a stream of steam having to adjust it down some.

    
After grabbing the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a razor she stepped inside.  The water sprayed out forcefully digging into her exhausted muscles.  She stood there for a long time just allowing the water to massage them.  Muscles that felt like she had been in a marathon today.  After feeling the tension leave her body and washing quickly, she reached out taking a towel, wrapping herself tightly in it.

    
She took her hand smearing the fog on the mirror taking a look at herself.  Again she thought about how she ended up in this situation.  Why was it she was in danger?  Why would she be in danger?  And something that Connor had said to her really made her mind go crazy with questions.  How was it that what she decided to do, would affect the world?  Was she really that important?

    
Quickly she reached over and downed the glass of wine.  If she was going to have this conversation with him she was going to need some liquid nerve calm.  She quickly dressed, towel dried her hair and then after slipping on the house shoes she went back to the kitchen.

    
The minute she opened her bedroom door the smell of freshly cooked steak was amazing.  She made her way back to the kitchen.  Connor stood with his back towards her finishing up the steak.  She noticed he had also changed and showered.  His hair was still damp and wild like he had just ran his fingers through it.  Dressed in a pair of light jeans, a white t shirt, barefoot he looked sexy as hell.

    
She noticed now just how well shaped he was.  She stared over his backside almost gaulking at him.  From his broad shoulders down to his muscular butt and legs.  She licked her lips and then she felt herself flush.  She shook her head turning looking away.

    
When she finally felt she had regained her composure she turned back around.  Connor stood on the other side of the bar staring at her.  It was then she noticed his hand rubbing Chance’s head.  Realizing Connor knew exactly what she thought she turned away again.  She couldn’t believe this.  The first time she looked at a guy in a long time and the dog told on her.

    
“Are you ready?”  He asked.

    
“For what?”  What was he really asking her she thought?  He couldn’t be asking what she was thinking. Cause she was definitely ready. 
‘Oh my God I have to stop thinking of him that way’. 
Chancing a glance at him the smile on his face let her know that oh yeah he knew what was on her mind.  Sending Chance to lie down before the fire he motioned for her to take a chair.

    
“Something to eat.  It’s done.  Well done actually.”

    
“Oh, yeah.  Starving.” 

    
She watched as he made her plate and sat it in front of her.  There was more salad and steak on her plate than she could eat but she wasn’t complaining.  She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she took the first bite.  The steak was cooked in a way she had never tasted.  It was delicious.  Nothing like the way hers always turned out. Black and too tough to cut.  This steak she wanted to eat and not because she had to.  The tender meat made her mouth water for more as she slowly chewed the first bite before swallowing and tearing into it.

    
Several bites later she looked up catching Connor watching her.  “What?”  Did she have something on her face she thought.

    
“Nothing.  Just never seen a woman eat like you before.”

    
She looked back down at her plate wondering if that was an insult and had she been eating like an animal.  “I didn’t realize.  Sorry.”  Embarrassed she kept her head down and quietly laid the knife and fork down.

    
“I didn’t mean it like you took it.  I just meant it’s nice to see a woman not afraid to eat in front of a man.  That’s all I meant.  Please finish eating.”

    
“Are you going to keep watching me?”

    
“No.  I’m gonna finish cleaning up and then watch some TV.”  He turned clearing the stove, placing the skillet in the sink he began to wash it.

    
“I thought you didn’t have cable.” 

    
“I don’t, but I have DVD’s.” 

    
She reached down and cut another bite.  “So how long have you lived here?”

    
“A few years.”  He said as he continued to clean up.

    
“What do you do for a living?”  What she really wanted to know was how he could afford to live here.

    
“I write mostly.”

    
“What do you write?”

    
“Sports reviews, miscellaneous articles for magazines.  Wrote a couple of mystery novels which is what has paid nicely for this place.”

    
“What were they about?”

    
“My life.”  His back stiffened.  She could tell he was uncomfortable or bothered by that.  She didn’t feel the need to pry any further.  After all she didn’t want this to feel as if it were an interrogation.

    
She took the last bite and finished her glass of wine.  She stood taking her plate and wine glass to the sink.  When he reached over to take the plate, his fingers brushed her innocently but an innocent reaction wasn’t what she had. 

    
What she felt move from his body into hers was much more.  She looked up locking her eyes with his.  She watched as his eyes moved down to her mouth.  Staring at her lips as if he thirsted for her kiss.

    
The next reaction he had wasn’t one she understood or expected.  He blinked his eyes and then turned back washing the plate.

    
Keira moved away, giving them the distance that he needed.  That she needed.  She didn’t know what had gotten into her but she hadn’t come for this.

    
When she reached enough distance between them she turned back looking at him.  “Who are you?  Really?”

    
“I’m your protector.”  His answer wasn’t what she wanted.  He had already told her that much but now she needed to know exactly why it was she needed a protector to begin with. 

    
“Yeah I know but why do I need a protector?”

    
“Because you’re different.  You’re like me.  Not human.” He struggled with the words to tell her what she needed to know without sounding to corny.  So he decided it would be better to just be truthful.

    
“I’m not human?”  Her words were paused and struggled from the shock.  How could she not be human she thought. Maybe this was a big mistake coming here with him.  Taking a step back she looked him in the eyes. Somehow she knew she was safe and whatever he had to tell her she should believe.

    
“No.  You’re an Evol. “

    
“A what?”

    
“You are one of a kind.  Evols can only exist one at a time.  You have very strong abilities.  Ones that nobody knows.  Each Evol changes.  Their abilities grow each time.  They evolve if you will.  The older you are the stronger your abilities are.  Your life will not be like that of a human.  You will not die of natural causes.  You have the gift of immortality.”

    
“Immortality?   I won’t die from natural causes?  There can only be one.  So that means if I die I am killed.  All the others have been killed!”  Her breathing picked up.  Rapidly she sucked in the air around her.  “What am I a Vampire?  I have never had an urge to bite anyone.  Maybe like the highlander? Is someone going to chop off my head?”  Her anxiety level rose quickly.

    
“Keira, slow your breathing down, you’re going to hyperventilate.”

    
Connor was by her side in a flash.  His hands gripped her shoulders as he spoke to her softly.  “Slow deep breaths.  In and out.  Come on slow em down.”  She stared into his eyes.  She no longer had difficulty with the information she had just been given, but his touch was stirring her in places she didn’t know existed.

    
Her heart beat harder than it ever had before.  Her skin began to burn and flush.  Her eyes began to blur and then Connor became clearer than he had ever been before.  As if she was looking through at a magnifying glass into his eyes she could see shades of blue circling around his pupil.  She watched his pupil adjusting, growing larger then smaller. 

    
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and began to blink her eyes rapidly.  The more she blinked the hotter her skin grew.

    
“Ouch!  Keira calm down.  Breathe slower, you have to control yourself.  Think about something calm.  About somewhere you want to be.  Something you would like to do.”

    
Connor didn’t know it but he had just added fuel to the fire.  She closed her eyes tightly as she began to imagine his naked body walking towards her with the intent on making her his. 

    
Suddenly and without warning she felt her body fly backward at a fast rate landing hard on the floor several feet away.  The wind knocked from her she fought to breathe.  Again everything blurred around her.  She turned her head looking for Connor and the image she saw frightened her.  He lay against the cave wall with his back towards her not moving.  She picked up on a faint smell of blood before the room went black.